December 9 - Hawaii's a distant memory part two

On Saturday morning, December 7th I awoke to a beautiful day as our ship was in an anchorage off Kona back on the Big Island. Three of my friends and I tendered ashore and taxied to the airport where I picked up my rental car, another SUV. I had planned a couple of places to go so we didn’t just wander as we did in Maui.  We headed first to Pu’uhonua o Hönaunau National Historical Park, also known as the Place of Refuge.  Until the early 19th century this place was where a Hawaiian who broke one of the ancient laws (kapus) could flee to and avoid certain death for the offense.  While at the place of refuge, the offender would be absolved by a priest and eventually allowed to leave. In addition to people who had broken laws, defeated warriors could also seek refuge there.

Years ago I had gone to the park and I remembered it as an absolutely beautiful place on the shore on the west coast of the Big Island.  When I’d visited before I had seen a lot of big sea turtles.  I didn’t see any this time but the place was as beautiful as before.  Surrounding the park is a wall made of black lava stone.  Just outside the wall some powerful chieftains lived in centuries past. Within the compound are a couple of Hawaiian hales which are triangular shaped houses open on two sides and constructed with roofs of dried palm fronds.  Inside one hale was a craftsman carving a kii (wooden statue)  In the other was an outrigger canoe and some more kiis and other wooden things like oars and bowls that would have been taken on a canoe  trip.  There is something magical about the refuge where as you walk beneath the palms swaying from the ocean breeze you can hear the waves rolling in against the lava rocks.  The combination of the Carolina blue sky, the black rocks, the sapphire sea, white sand and green palms make for a beautiful picture. I wish I was an artist who could paint the scene.

I know I'm going overboard here with photos, but I want to remember this place.

And I have to add a video now that I've figured out how to upload them.

When we left Pu’uhonua we drove on some one lane roads along the coast on our way to our next stop, the artist colony of Holualoa.  I’d been there years before and remembered a small village with lots of little shops and galleries of local craftsmen and artisans.  It’s still there but unfortunately that evening there was some kind of festival scheduled and so nearly all the places were closed as the owners prepared for the festivities.  There was one shop open and we did a little shopping but didn’t find anything absolutely wonderful.

We traveled on and our next stop was – Walmart!  Among the four of us we had a little list of small things we needed so Walmart seemed like the place to go.  My friend Colleen had never been to a Walmart.  (She’s Australian. What can I say?)  Since it was Saturday and just over two weeks until Christmas as you might imagine it was crowded.  We found the things we needed and before we left two of our group needed to use the restroom.  Stephanie and I waited inside the store by the exit and then we had a unique experience.  People on their way out started stopping and showing us their receipts for their purchases.  We were mistaken for the person who does that like in Costco, Sam’s Club, and obviously this Walmart.  I finally realized what was going on when a man came over with a bag of chocolate chips and showed me his receipt.  I used to joke when my husband was alive that if he ever retired I’d have to get a job as a Walmart or Costco greeter.  Now I have experience!

My friend Colleen on her maiden visit to Walmart. Can you see the excitement?

After we got together again we took off and decided it was time to return the car and tender back to our home away from home.  It was a nice day with more interesting scenery than our ride in Maui.  I would have to say that the Big Island is my favorite.  It has a lot to see and is not nearly as crowded as Oahu.  We set sail in the late afternoon for points south.  We have six days at sea before we see land again.

Here's the video I tried to insert above. Don't know what happened.  Oh well.